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Requirements for the welfare of baboons and pigs used in animal‐to‐animal xenotransplantation experiments
Author(s) -
Cross N,
Phillips CJC
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2009.00486.x
Subject(s) - xenotransplantation , baboon , animal welfare , animal husbandry , welfare , animal assisted therapy , biology , veterinary medicine , pet therapy , medicine , transplantation , surgery , political science , endocrinology , ecology , law , agriculture
Objective Review the welfare requirements of pigs and baboons used for xenotransplantation in research laboratories. Because of the requirements to maintain optimum health status, these animals are often kept in barren enclosures with little or no enrichment. They may also be exposed to procedures causing stress and discomfort. Although animal‐to‐human xenotransplantation is, at the present time, not approved in Australia, research is currently being performed to develop laboratory procedures, using the pig‐to‐baboon model. Results and conclusion We make recommendations for the husbandry of baboons and pigs used for xenotransplantation, to increase their welfare and minimise stress during experimental procedures, while attempting to preserve the health status required. It is proposed that novel standards should be devised and implemented for baboons, whereas existing pig welfare appraisal schemes could, with minor changes, be suitable for assessing the welfare of pigs used for xenotransplantation.